Method and apparatus for storing elongated material

ABSTRACT

In an apparatus for storing elongated flexible material in plural coiled loops around a cylindrical core on a base plate, a plurality of cylindrically profiled panels, establishing a hollow cylinder when in coaxial position. The panels are pivotally mounted to assume a first position of coaxial relationship to each other and to a particular axis to establish a cylindrical container wall at a distance from and concentrical to the core on the base when placed coaxial to said axis, and to assume a second position opening a passage between them having width larger than the diameter of the cylindrical container wall when established in the first position of the panels.

United States Patent [1 1 Meyer METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STORING ELONGATED MATERIAL [75] Inventor: Joachim Meyer, Lintorf, Germany [73] Assignee: Frisch Kabel -und Verseilmaschinenbau GmbH, Ratingen, Germany [22] Filed: June 22, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 265,306

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 22, 1971 Germany P 21 30 882.7

[52] US. Cl. 242/83 [51] Int. Cl. B2lc 47/04 [58] Field of Search 242/81, 82, 83

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,857,116 10/1958 Krafft r. 242/83 3,113,745 l2/l963 Bittman 242/83 Aug. 21, 1973 3,088,690 5/l963 Haugwitz 242/83 Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz Assistant Examiner-Edward J. McCarthy AttorneyRalf H. Siegemund [5 7] ABSTRACT in an apparatus for storing elongated flexible material in plural coiled loops around a cylindrical core on a base plate, a plurality of cylindrically profiled panels, establishing a hollow cylinder when in coaxial position. The panels are pivotally mounted to assume a first position of coaxial relationship to each other and to a particular axis to establish a cylindrical container wall at a distance from and concentrical to the core on the base when placed coaxial to said axis, and to assume a second position opening a passage between them having width larger than the diameter of the cylindrical container wall when established in the first position of the panels.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STORING ELONGATED MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to method and equipment for storing elongated flexible material such as cable, wire, rope etc., in plural loops around a cylindrical core element. More particularly, the invention relates to a storage facility of the stated type wherein the cylindrical core element is mounted on a carrier such as a movable pallet or the like as storage unit and constructed for easy replacement of a filled storage unit by an empty one.

The invention can also be regarded as an improvement over equipment such as shown in German Pat. No. l,03l,252. This patent discloses an upright container into which elongated flexible material is disposed in loops as coiled around a cylindrical core. Thus, the material occupies space between that core and a cylindrical container wall. A German Publication on standardization, DIN 46396 of February 1963, describes details of that kind of arrangement as it has been known and used. (See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,886,258 and 2,991,956).

Considering the foregoing as a description of the state of the art at that time, developments since then have lead to larger and larger containers. This publication DIN 46396 refers to containers having a height of about 80 em, but presently containers for storing coiled wire are used which are 2 meters high and have 125 meter in diameter. Clearly, not only do the dimensions increase but weight and manufacturing costs have risen accordingly. However, the transportation of such large containers poses additional problems. These problems arise particularly when the empty containers are returned. Moreover, such containers are quite heavy and have to be quite sturdy.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide improved construction for coiled wire storage or the like, basically of the type referred to above but easier to handle, particularly when empty. The invention is based on the discovery. that the container proper is needed only during the coiling process when the material is placed around a core. The elongated flexible material enters the container, for example, at a speed of 30 meters per second. As a consequence, the looping material experiences significant centrifugal force tending to drive it in radially outward direction. The container wall around the core serves as a barrier or stopper against which the material impact before dropping to the bottom or onto the loops already in the container. Thus, the container wall restrains outward movement of the material and limits the outer diameter of the material as coiled; the container wall has no further function.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is suggested to use just a base plate onto which is releasably mounted a cylindrical core. The cylindrical outer boundary for the coiling process is no longer a container wall that is affixed to the base, rather, curved wall panels are provided which complement each other to complete a hollow cylinder but they are separable, corresponding to axial dividing lines in the cylinder, and each wall panel is mounted for displacement. In a first position, the curved wall panels are assembled in a coaxial configuration so as to form a cylinder; in a second position, the wall panels are retracted to a position permitting easy passage of the previously filled" container with coiled material around the core. The wall panels are part of the coiling and filling station for the elongated flexible material; when assembled, they complete a container, when disassembled, they permit passage of the coiled material that no longer needs a container.

In operation, an empty core on a base can be later ally shifted into the filling station whereby the wall panels are retracted. Next, the wall panels are assembled, and the resulting container is filled by the coiler, looping running, paid-in elongated material around the core, whereby the assembled container wall restrains outward displacement of the paid-in material. Thereafter, the wall panels are retracted and the core is surrounded by coiled material seated on the base plate, and removed.

The wall panels as part of the filling station are mounted thereto or separate wall segment holders are installed. The filling station may be established by coilers of a design as shown,for example, in my U.S. Pat. application, serial No. 200,934, filed Nov. 22, 197i.

The container" is, thus, filled, for example, with bare or insulated wire. In a preferred form of practicing the invention, four wall panels are provided, each covering in cross section profile a arc, Le, a quadrant. The wall panels are mounted in pairs on opposite sides of the feeder and withdrawal path for the core-plusbase plate assembly. The panels of a pair are symmetrically disposed and pivotable on a common axis, parallel to the axis of the container for obtaining the two operating positions as defined.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distincly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention, it is believed that the invention, the objects and features of the invention and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross section through a device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1a shows a detailed section view taken along lines lala in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a similar top elevation of the same device when the wall panels have position to define a container; and

FIG. 3 is a similar top elevation but with retracted wall panels.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Proceeding now to the detailed description of the drawings, the Figures show a base plate or flat pallet 1 movable on a roller bed 10 in direction of the arrow in FIG. 2. A cylindrical, preferably hollow core 2, is releasably mounted on pallet l and in upright position (vertical position of the axis). The pallet with core can be loaded by means of fork lifters or the like, placing it onto the roller bed 10, whereupon the pallet is reeled into a particular position in which elongated, flexible material is coiled and drops in loops around the core 2.

When a pallet with core has this particular position and as shown in FIG. 2, a container can be established around the core 2 and in concentric relation thereto. This container is composed of four wall panels 31, 32,

33 and 34, disposed symmetrically around the core 1. The wall panels 31 to 34 are curved to follow a cylinder surface. Each panel covers one fourth of such surface and has a circle arc as cross section profile, the arc being a quadrant in this case. The entire assembly may be disposed underneath a coiler of the type referred to above.

The wall panels are provided with outer support arms 41, 42, 43 and 44 respectively for the four panels (and additional support arms 41 to 44). Each arm has a sleeve such as 5. The sleeves on arms 41 and 42 (and also of arms 41' and 42) are coaxially journalled on a shaft 61 and to one side of the roller bed. The sleeves of arms 43 and 44 are coaxially mounted and journalled on a second shaft 62. The sleeves and, therefore, the respective arms, 41 and 42 etc., can turn on these shafts so that the four wall panels, as supported on and held by the arms, can be pivoted accordingly.

Elbow links such as 71 through 74 are additionally linked to some of the arms. Link 71 is linked to a short lever as extending from arm 41, as shown in greater detail in FIG. la. The links 72 through 74 are analogously linked to arms 42, 43 and 44. The two links 71 and 72 are, thus, individually pivotally linked to short lever arms as extending from arms 41 and 42 respectively, but links 71 and 72 are coupled with one end each to an actuator rod of a drive 81. Analogously, links 73 and 74 are coupled to a second drive 82. Two drives 81 and 82, operate the links 71 and 72 respectively for pivoting the arms and wall panels, respectively on the axes 61 and 62, and in pairs whereby the two wall panels of a pair are pivoted in opposite direction.

PK 2 shows the wall panels in position in which a container wall is assembled around and coaxial to the core 2. As the drives 81 and 82 retract the links, all wall panels are pivoted away from the core and into the position shown in FIG. 3. The dash-dot circle in FIG. 3 shows the previous container-closing position for better comparison. The wall panels, 31 to 34, when retracted, have position so that all portions of any wall panel have a larger distance from the core than the radial distance of the container wall" from the core when assembled. Thus, the filled container", now without wall, can be removed from and laterally shifted out of the coiling station via the roller bed.

lt is apparent that the drives 81 and 82 can be con trolled in dependence upon the base-plus-core placement and withdrawal process. When a pallet with core is placed on the roller bed, or advances to the station, the wall panels open up (unless the open position of the panel as shown in FIG. 1, is the normal operating position). When the pallet has the proper position in which the core is under the coiler, the container is completed around the core coaxially thereto. As the filling process is completed, e.g., after predetermined quantity of elongated flexible material has been coiled into the container, the container walls recede and the pallet with core carrying the coil material can be rolled off the station.

it can be seen that the pallet-plus-core combination is very little subjected to forces from the coiling process. These forces are taken up by the container wall panels which are part of the station equipment and are shared with the several pallet-wall-core units that pass through. The cores are hardly subjected to any of these forces and can be made from inexpensive material and as throw-away items. Thus, the containers" as individual units are reduced to pallets which, of course, must be sufficiently strong for carrying the coiled material. However, these flat pallets are very easy to move and their return to the filling station poses no problem.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but all changes and modifications thereof not constituting departures from the spirit and scope of the invention are intended to be included.

I claim: 1. in an apparatus for storing elongated material in plural coiled loops around a cylindrical core on a base plate, the combination comprising:

a plurality of cylindrically profiled panels, establishing a hollow cylinder when in coaxial position;

means for individually mounting the panels for pivoting each on an axis parallel to the cylindrical axis of the respective panel;

second means for pivoting the panels as mounted to assume a first position of coaxial relationship to each other and to a particular axis and in which the panels together establish a cylindrical container wall at a distance from and concentrical to a core on a base when placed coaxial to said axis, and to assume a second position opening a passage between them having width larger than the diameter of the cylindrical container wall when established in the first position of the panels.

2. In an apparatus as in claim 1 and including four quadrant panels first two of them being mounted on one side of the passage, the other two panels being mounted on the other side of the passage, the first two mounted for pivoting on a first axis and in opposite directions in relation to each other, the other two panels mounted for pivoting on a second axis and also in opposite directions in relation to each other.

3. In a method of storing elongated flexible material which is being paid in and coiled, comprising the steps of:

providing a base plate with a core in a particular position so that the coiled material may fall in sequential loops around the core, whereby the core has coaxial position to a particular axis;

assembling a container from container panels, having cylindrical profile, coaxial to said axis and concentric to the core for restraining outward motion of the material as coiled around the core;

retracting the container panels from said coaxial position; and

laterally removing the plate with core and material as coiled around the core.

4. In a method as in claim 3, wherein said core is releasably placed on the plate, the core being subsequently removed from said plate, and placing another core onto the plate for providing the plate with the other core in said particular position.

l #1 i I! l 

1. IN an apparatus for storing elongated material in plural coiled loops around a cylindrical core on a base plate, the combination comprising: a plurality of cylindrically profiled panels, establishing a hollow cylinder when in coaxial position; means for individually mounting the panels for pivoting each on an axis parallel to the cylindrical axis of the respective panel; second means for pivoting the panels as mounted to assume a first position of coaxial relationship to each other and to a particular axis and in which the panels together establish a cylindrical container wall at a distance from and concentrical to a core on a base when placed coaxial to said axis, and to assume a second position opening a passage between them having width larger than the diameter of the cylindrical container wall when established in the first position of the panels.
 2. In an apparatus as in claim 1 and including four quadrant panels first two of them being mounted on one side of the passage, the other two panels being mounted on the other side of the passage, the first two mounted for pivoting on a first axis and in opposite directions in relation to each other, the other two panels mounted for pivoting on a second axis and also in opposite directions in relation to each other.
 3. In a method of storing elongated flexible material which is being paid in and coiled, comprising the steps of: providing a base plate with a core in a particular position so that the coiled material may fall in sequential loops around the core, whereby the core has coaxial position to a particular axis; assembling a container from container panels, having cylindrical profile, coaxial to said axis and concentric to the core for restraining outward motion of the material as coiled around the core; retracting the container panels from said coaxial position; and laterally removing the plate with core and material as coiled around the core.
 4. In a method as in claim 3, wherein said core is releasably placed on the plate, the core being subsequently removed from said plate, and placing another core onto the plate for providing the plate with the other core in said particular position. 